The operation of unmanned aerial systems or “drones” can pose a serious threat to manned flights and people and property on the ground, especially when they aren’t operated safely and responsibly. In light of their growing popularity for recreational purposes, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launched a UAS Toolkit specifically aimed at keeping operators, aircraft […]

The operation of unmanned aerial systems or “drones” can pose a serious threat to manned flights and people and property on the ground, especially when they aren’t operated safely and responsibly.

In light of their growing popularity for recreational purposes, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launched a UAS Toolkit specifically aimed at keeping operators, aircraft and communities safe.

Anybody considering gifting or operating a new drone this holiday season will benefit from the following tips for recreational users in ICAO’s UAS Toolkit:

1. You should always consult your local Civil Aviation Authority since drone guidelines and regulations differ from country to country. Many States’ regulations can be accessed from the Toolkit.

2. If the drone weighs more than 25 kg (55 lbs), most States require you to obtain a permit before operating it.

3. If you are paid to use the drone, or if you use it for research, most States require you to obtain a permit before operating it.

4. Keep your drone within eyesight at all times

5. Read the users’ manual thoroughly before operating your drone

6. Check your drone before each flight

7. Don’t fly within 50 metres (55 yards) of or over people, property or vehicles

8. Don’t fly more than 150 metres (490 feet) from the ground

9. Don’t fly near an airport. Stay at least 8km (5 miles) away.

10. Always remember that you are now a remote pilot and are responsible for flying safely and avoiding collisions.

Last week ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu joined ICAO South American (SAM) Regional Office Director Fabio Rabbani and his team (who are pictured above) for a series of lively events and ceremonies aimed at commemorating the SAM Office’s landmark 70th Anniversary in Lima, Peru. The SAM Office was established in Lima in November 1948, […]

Last week ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu joined ICAO South American (SAM) Regional Office Director Fabio Rabbani and his team (who are pictured above) for a series of lively events and ceremonies aimed at commemorating the SAM Office’s landmark 70th Anniversary in Lima, Peru.

The SAM Office was established in Lima in November 1948, and is accredited to all South American States. It encompasses the entire geographic area between Panama and Antarctica, including major portions of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

To celebrate the Office’s seven illustrious decades of work in forging consensus on ICAO’s global harmonization priorities among SAM Region States, and to thank Peru for the incredible support and generosity relevant to its hosting, Dr. Liu, with the First Council Vice President and some Council Representatives, were pleased to attend a number of SAM70 activities coinciding with International Civil Aviation Day on 7 December.

These included meetings with Peru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nestor Popolizio, and its Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Edmer Trujillo Mori, the inauguration of a new Hall of Tribute to South American Aviation Pioneers, located within the SAM Regional Office, and the presentation of a new commemorative stamp by Peru.

The Secretary General was also pleased to open a new photographic exhibition at Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs illustrating ICAO’s history and Peru’s contributions to its work, and took part in an unveiling of a new monument celebrating this history at Jorge Chavez International Airport.

Every ICAO regional office is responsible for serving the Contracting States to which it is accredited. They maintain liaison with non-Contracting States and other territories in the areas of general responsibility, for the performance of the following:

​Air Navigation Functions, including, assisting, expediting and following up of action by States to implement regional plans and regional supplementary procedures; and implementation of ICAO Standards, Recommended Practices and procedures

​Air Transport Functions, including States and international organizations of ICAO air transport policies and activities, and encouraging States to file statistics, to implement Annex 9 on facilitation, to submit replies to economic study questionnaires and to submit data for revision of the Manual of Airport and Air Navigation Facility Tariffs (Doc 7100).

​Regional Bodies, where established, close co-operation with the regional bodies: African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), and co-ordination of interrelated work programmes to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure harmony in the development of the international air transport system as a whole.

​Technical Co-operation Functions, including the Regional Scholarship Programme and assistance in investigating fellowship applications; provision of advice on programming, including co-ordination within the region of requests for regional projects; briefing of newly-recruited Technical Co-operation experts.

​Legal, obtaining current copies of air laws and regulations, as well as information on contemplated air legislation and regulations, from Contracting States; obtaining, on request, judicial information relating to aviation matters.

​Aviation Security, encouraging, assisting, expediting, monitoring and following up all aspects of aviation security in accordance with ICAO policy, Standards, Recommended Practices and procedures.

​General, reporting on implementation by States of Assembly and Council Resolutions regarding aviation security; reporting on aviation accidents and incidents to enable follow-up action by ICAO as may be required; the distribution of ICAO publications and documents in accordance with Headquarters policy; the holding of meetings at regional office locations, or other appropriate locations within the areas of general responsibility, the participation in press, television and radio interviews and the provision of lectures on ICAO activities; the follow-up with Contracting States, as required, on the collection of contributions and the attendance at meetings of other international organizations.

]]>International Civil Aviation Day: Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind.https://www.unitingaviation.com/strategic-objective/general-interest/international-civil-aviation-day-working-together-to-ensure-no-country-is-left-behind/
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 01:05:48 +0000https://www.unitingaviation.com/?p=8748

The theme for International Civil Aviation Day, “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind”, was established on a recurring basis for the 2016-2018 ICAO triennium, in order to highlight the enormous transformational power of air connectivity to improve people’s lives. It also reflects the key role of cooperation and assistance to help spread aviation’s […]

The theme for International Civil Aviation Day, “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind”, was established on a recurring basis for the 2016-2018 ICAO triennium, in order to highlight the enormous transformational power of air connectivity to improve people’s lives.

It also reflects the key role of cooperation and assistance to help spread aviation’s benefits to every corner of the world, and on the power of capacity-building to help needful States leverage the latest technologies and innovations.

Diplomats from 54 world powers risked war-torn skies to meet in Chicago in 1944 (above), where they drafted the visionary Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) which established ICAO. It was formalized in the Convention’s preamble that civil aviation should be developed as a tool for world peace and prosperity, and in the decades since its ability to connect the world’s peoples and cultures and improve the prosperity of local populations has only become more relevant. Today more than 10 million passengers take to the skies on over 100,000 flights each and every day in aviation’s global network, numbers which are all set to double in the next 15 years based on current forecasts.

No fewer than 4.1 billion passengers and 56 million tonnes of freight were carried on 37 million commercial flights last year, and in light of this massive volume of operations aviation generates over 65 million jobs worldwide and more than USD 2.7 trillion to global GDP.

Despite the incredible scale of these economic impacts, the growth in commercial flight volumes show no signs of slowing. Indeed current forecasts see the numbers of passengers and operations in global air transport doubling by the mid-2030s. By that time, no fewer than 200,000 flights per day are expected to take off and land all over the world.

This tremendous exponential growth, coupled with the distinct contributions of aviation connectivity to States’ achievement of 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), presents a new and tremendous opportunity for global development in the coming decades.

But in order to take advantage of this growth, and optimize it for their local businesses and populations, governments must commit to raising their levels of ICAO compliance to be in line with global norms.

And they must also continue to support the principles of open borders and freer trade, so that air transport can continue to connect us all and foster new understanding among the peoples of the world, and new opportunities for travel and trade.

Improving local skills and capabilities to assure ICAO compliance can be a daunting task for many developing States, and the No Country Left Behind theme acknowledges these challenges while encouraging greater generosity and assistance from more developed States and donors.

To-date it has helped many countries become more active participants in international aviation, helping to augment travel and tourism revenues for Small Island States, provide Landlocked Developing States with safe, secure and rapid access to global suppliers and trade routes, and to present a brighter, more sustainable future of opportunity for their local populations.

The availability of highly-trained skilled local resources is also a factor in how effectively States will be able to implement and leverage emerging technologies in aviation, such as drones and other remotely-piloted and new high-altitude aircraft, Artificial Intelligence and many other new capabilities now coming to the fore.

International civil aviation remains our most remarkable example of successful human cooperation and effective global partnership. On 7 December 2018, ICAO calls upon its Member States and the global community to help us underscore its many accomplishments, both this year but especially next year as well, when ICAO will be looking to world governments to help it celebrate the 75th Anniversary of ICAO and the global framework enabling international flight.

As part of ICAO’s 75th Anniversary celebration, new youth-oriented innovation contests will be carried out throughout the course of 2019, the goal of which will be to inspire and motivate younger demographics to pursue careers in the air transport sector.

On the 31st of October every year World Cities Day is celebrated around the world. The overall World Cities Day theme for 2018 is Better City, Better Life, it is call to action for all of us to rethink how cities may become better places to protect and enhance people’s lives, leaving no one behind. The global observance of this […]

On the 31st of October every year World Cities Day is celebrated around the world. The overall World Cities Day theme for 2018 is Better City, Better Life, it is call to action for all of us to rethink how cities may become better places to protect and enhance people’s lives, leaving no one behind. The global observance of this year’s World Cities Day event is being celebrated in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

With over half of the population living in urban areas and the numbers increasing daily, cities are facing unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic, social and spatial challenges. This World Cities Day is engaging with local, regional and national governments, partners, communities of practice and residents to raise awareness about the importance of resilient cities and inspiring action for building resilience for more
sustainable cities. ICAO joins the celebration of World Cities Day in support of the importance of steering airports and city planning processes towards synergistic sustainability.

By 2050, 70% of global population will live in cities. 60% of new urban settlements are yet to be built, representing a huge opportunity for building resilient cities. With 54% of the world’s population living in urban areas in 2015 and a projected increase to 66% by 2050, managing cities, as well as ensuring their safe and sustainable growth, is a clear priority.

An important focus point, which is recognized by the New Urban Agenda as a priority platform, was emphasized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifically under Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The need for providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all and to enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization, will lean on aviation as it uniquely connects the world and its peoples, bringing together families, friends, businesses and cultures. The aviation sector contributes greatly to the socio-economic development of urban areas. In fact, the industry directly and indirectly generates 63.5 million direct and indirect jobs worldwide. Air transport also contributes greatly to global economic prosperity and has an annual global economic impact of USD 2.7 trillion to the GDP.

In the more specific case of developing landlocked and small island countries, aviation is crucial to economic growth. Not only does it allow for necessary mobility and interconnectivity between people, but it also supports numerous other industries that rely on air links to operate. Tourism, for example, is an area that greatly depends on flights to function effectively. Moreover, aviation is essential for world trade since it permits the continuous flow of goods and services over borders thus linking international markets. Airports contribute to trade efficiency since they can be used, amongst other things, as warehouses and distribution centers.

Aside from its economic significance, aviation is essential for the provision of vital aid and humanitarian assistance. In times of crisis or following disasters, immediate as well as long term sustained support from the international community, plays a pivotal role in emergency response and recovery. Airports become the crises centers where action is being constantly coordinated. Consequently, whether it is through food and cargo drops in hard to access areas or through victims’ evacuation, air transportation perpetuates the tradition of having No Country Left Behind.

The importance of aviation in the sustainable development of all States is demonstrated every day. What is fundamental is establishing dynamic corridors between airports and urban centers, since metropolitan areas at the social, economic and environmental level partly depends on the axis linking them to airports. The relationship is reciprocal as urban conditions impact on aviation safety, efficiency, security, economic viability and environmental soundness.

]]>On International United Nations Day: ICAO’s role as a specialized agency of the United Nationshttps://www.unitingaviation.com/strategic-objective/general-interest/on-international-united-nations-day-icaos-role-as-a-specialized-agency-of-the-united-nations/
Wed, 24 Oct 2018 15:02:28 +0000https://www.unitingaviation.com/?p=8181

This previously released article has been updated by the ICAO Secretariat Around the world every October 24th, UN Day is celebrated as the anniversary of when the UN Charter entered into force. With the ratification of this founding document in 1945 by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security […]

This previously released article has been updated by the ICAO Secretariat

Around the world every October 24th, UN Day is celebrated as the anniversary of when the UN Charter entered into force. With the ratification of this founding document in 1945 by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

October 24th has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday. The International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO (I-K-O) as it is commonly pronounced, is the UN specialized agency that manages the administration and governance of the Standards and policies that ensure the civil aviation sector is safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible.

The Second World War was an important catalyst for the technical development of aviation. During this time, as long-distance flights became possible, aviation facilities, routes and technologies started being used for civilian purposes.

At the invitation of the United States, representatives from 54 States attended the 1944 International Civil Aviation Conference that was held in Chicago. On 7 December of that year, 52 States signed the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The International Civil Aviation Conference, otherwise known as the Chicago conference, which took place in that city in November 1944.

The Convention, informally known as the Chicago Convention, therefore created the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the objective of developing international civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner with the view of creating and preserving friendship and understanding among the nations and peoples of the world; this in the context of an on-going global conflict . Aviation was and continues to be recognized as an enabler for both international peace and sustainable development.

ICAO’s core mandate then, as it is today, was to help States achieve the highest possible degree of uniformity in civil aviation regulations, standards, procedures, and organization, to ensure the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation.

The following year, representatives from 50 States met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization. They drew up the United Nations Charter, which was signed on 26 June 1945. The United Nations (UN) officially came into existence on 24 October that same year, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories.

The signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, 1945

Article 57 of the UN Charter provides that “specialized agencies established by inter-governmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities as defined in their basic instruments in economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related fields shall be brought into relationship with the UN.”

Further, Article 63 provides that the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) may enter into agreements with such specialized agencies. Article 64 and 65 of the Chicago Convention also enabled ICAO to enter into appropriate arrangements with any organization on air matters within its competence, directly affecting world security or aimed at preserving world peace, as well as to maintain common services or to facilitate personnel and work coordination.

In September 1946, the ECOSOC and the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) entered into negotiations that resulted in an Agreement between the UN and ICAO. This agreement came into force 70 years ago, on 13 May 1947. It recognized ICAO as the specialized and autonomous agency within the UN system that is responsible for civil aviation.

The Council of ICAO is a permanent body, comprised today of 36 Member States. These Members are elected every three years by the Assembly and hold office until the following election. Council permanency is a unique feature within the UN system.

ICAO Council Chamber

Membership in ICAO and the UN differ. In accordance with the UN Charter, UN membership is open to the peace-loving States that accept the obligations contained in the UN Charter and are able to carry out these obligations. States are admitted membership in the UN by decision of the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Security Council. Currently there are 193 UN Member States.

Members of the UN and States associated with them can adhere to the Chicago Convention and become ICAO Member States. Applications for ICAO membership are transmitted to the UN General Assembly for consideration. There are currently 192 ICAO Member States.

Being part of the UN system allows representatives of the UN and ICAO to participate, without voting privileges, in each other’s meetings and deliberations. They can enter into consultation processes on civil aviation matters and propose agenda items in relevant meetings.

The Agreement signed on 13 May 1947 between ICAO and the UN calls on ICAO to foster the conditions of stability and well-being. These are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

With this Agreement, ICAO is directed to promote:

higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development;

solutions for international economic, social, health, and related problems;

international cultural and educational cooperation, including universal respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without racial, sexual, language or religious distinction

ICAO’s role in initiating studies and reports and making recommendations related to international, economic, social, cultural, educational, health and matters concerning aviation, is also acknowledged in the Agreement. Recommendations for coordinating policies, activities and information exchanges between of ICAO and the UN, are also possible with this arrangement.

Assistance to the Security Council is also enabled by this Agreement. Recently the international community saw this feature actioned, when on 23 September 2016, the ICAO Secretary General presented a briefing to the UN Security Council. On that same day, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2309 on countering terrorist threats to civil aviation.

Other administrative matters, such as personnel arrangements, statistical services, budget and finance, are considered within this Agreement.

ICAO is the custodian agency of one of the agreed global indicators “passenger and freight volumes carried by mode of transport”. This serves to monitor progress towards achieving SDG 9, Target 9.1, which relates to infrastructure development, and continues to propose other indicators to monitor specific SDGs and related mechanisms.

Not only do these actions demonstrate the strong contribution of aviation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but they solidify ICAO’s role in fostering and advocating for the sustainable development of international air transport, while ensuring that No Country is Left Behind.

About the author

Jimena Blumenkron, LL.M., LL.B., is an Aviation Safety Officer at ICAO, a published author, a speaker at international forums, and a guest lecturer at McGill University. She supports ICAO’s Strategic Planning Coordination and Partnerships Office.

The ICAO Legal Committee, chaired by Mr. Terry Olson from France, concluded its 37th Session at ICAO’s Headquarters early in September, addressing a range of challenging emerging issues for international air transport. Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Council President and Dr. Fang Liu, ICAO Secretary General were present to open the Session. In his welcoming […]

The ICAO Legal Committee, chaired by Mr. Terry Olson from France, concluded its 37th Session at ICAO’s Headquarters early in September, addressing a range of challenging emerging issues for international air transport. Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Council President and Dr. Fang Liu, ICAO Secretary General were present to open the Session.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Aliu emphasized how “ICAO has relied on the Legal Committee to provide it with advice, studies and recommendations for its activities, since its inception, and to enable it to meet its objectives under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which is the constitution of ICAO.”

Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Council President, inaugurates the 37th Session of the ICAO Legal Committee as it begins to address some of the most important emerging issues for international civil aviation. The meeting, convened at ICAO HQ, was attended by 168 Delegates representing 70 States and eight International Organizations. On the occasion it elected its new Chair and Vice-Chairs, with Mrs. Siew Huay Tan from Singapore becoming the first woman to serve as the ICAO Legal Committee Chairperson.

The Council President also underscored the Committee’s key role in ICAO’s adoption of some twenty-four international air law instruments. A number of them, particularly those related to international aviation security, now belong to the most widely accepted codifications of international law.

The main theme underlying the deliberations at this session was modern technology and international air law. To this end, the Committee decided to establish a working group to consider issues relating to unmanned (pilotless) aircraft operations and their integration into civil aviation, with the aim to identify possible solutions within the framework of the Organization’s on-going work. It also agreed to address new challenges relating to sub-orbital flights and high altitude or stratospheric operations as well as those presented by cyber threats.

The Committee also recommended the publication of a manual on the legal aspects of unruly and disruptive passengers to take into account the changes brought about by the 2014 Montreal Protocol (amending the 1963 Tokyo Convention), as well as a compilation of ICAO provisions on conflicts of interest in civil aviation. New electronic platforms for aircraft registration and the provision of relevant data on the registration, ownership and control of aircraft were also envisaged.

The ICAO Legal Committee was established by the inaugural Session of the ICAO Assembly, in 1947. It is a permanent Committee of the Organization and is open to participation by all Member States.

Its 37th Session was attended by 168 Delegates, representing 70 States and eight International Organizations, and on this occasion it elected its new Chair and Vice-Chairs, with Mrs. Siew Huay Tan from Singapore being elected as the first woman to serve as the ICAO Legal Committee Chairperson.

]]>Going against the wind: One Woman’s Journey to Become a Pilothttps://www.unitingaviation.com/strategic-objective/general-interest/one-womans-journey-to-become-a-pilot/
Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:48:46 +0000https://www.unitingaviation.com/?p=6721

I was born and raised in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, after my father, a police constable with the Nepal police, was transferred to the city. I am the first of three children, our family of five lived in one small room. My father’s salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet, but my uneducated […]

I was born and raised in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, after my father, a police constable with the Nepal police, was transferred to the city. I am the first of three children, our family of five lived in one small room. My father’s salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet, but my uneducated mother found work so they could enroll us in a private school. After I finished high school, I pursued science with the hope of becoming a doctor one day – until the day my path changed.

It happened when my father took me to my ancestral village (Khotang), which is located in the eastern part of Nepal. As we were strolling through the village he showed me the airport that was under construction, on the very site where my father and his brothers fetched wood as children. Manamaya Airport at Khanidanda was to begin commercial operations the following year, and it was there that I felt my first pull to aviation. Watching my father experience nostalgic feelings as he remembered his childhood was the moment I decided I wanted to be a pilot.

My initial plan to become a doctor was based on the scholarships the government provided. I encountered a painful truth when I discovered there was no government scholarships or bank funding for pilot training, I didn’t have the fortune I would need to become one. Moreover, Nepal didn’t have a pilot training school at that time. Though there was a flight training school called Siwani Air in Bharatpur, it had closed down due to lack of aircraft and a navigation system.

I had already quit my medical preparation, I went from one education consultancy to another trying to find out how much my flight training would cost: USD 40,000, close to four million Nepali Rupees. There was no way my parents could have arranged that amount of money, my dream of becoming a pilot was shattered. I don’t remember how many days I cried. For months, I consoled myself in meditation and books, until the day I read this: “Everything you want is coming. Relax and let the universe pick the timing and the way. You just need to trust that what you want is coming and watch how fast it comes”.

I believed I would one day have the money. And then my prayers were answered. In 2009 my father was selected for a UN peacekeeping mission in East Timor. The salary he received wasn’t enough to fund my training but it gave me confidence to borrow money from friends and relatives. After five months of agonizing I went to the Philippines for my training. I was the only girl in a group of eight males, seven from Nepal and one from South India. At the Philippines Pilots Academy, which was located in Plaridel, Bulacan Province, I was outnumbered. I found it difficult to get along with the students. Most of them came from a upper middle class families, and as they said hurtful things, they made me feel less worthy. They said I wouldn’t make it past my first flight and I wouldn’t find a job back home. Added to this I am a vegetarian and I found that to be challenging in the Philippines. To make things worse, I lost my wallet, my return ticket and cell phone while travelling. Maybe things would get worse, but I told myself they had to get better.

I passed my exams before everyone else and was released for solo fight before them. I flew solo in a Cessna 150 with a call sign of RPC-1128. I can’t express the happiness, the euphoria I felt the first time I flew solo. My love for aircraft and my passion to fly grew stronger. My perception of life changed the moment I was in the sky, and I became a different person in the aircraft. I was criticized over and over by my male colleagues when I tried to help them and I was made to feel that women could never become captains. Though there were already female captains working for reputable airlines like Yeti Airlines and Buddha Airlines in Nepal, the data showed that of the 214 commercial pilot licence issued by the authority, only 24 were female pilots.

There was this idea that men were superior to women because the society we lived in allowed men to be the dominant gender. Because of practices and culture, men were generally viewed as providers, protectors of family and society. From ancient times, men were glorified in battle, preferred at birth, given priority everywhere. In my opinion, there is no superior gender. Men might be superior to women in certain tasks, but women are superior to men in others. Those who saw that men are better than women at certain tasks generalized that men are better than women. And though this stereotype is prevalent, the truth is none of us can survive without the other. It took me months to get over this, so I could move on.

I stayed a year in the Philippines to complete my training, earning my CPL in November 2009 and then I returned to Nepal. I finished my CPL written exam, which was valid for five years. If I could get a job, I would have a Nepali pilot licence in that particular type aircraft. In 2010, with the aviation industry in Nepal in a recession, getting a job as a commercial pilot was very difficult. There were hundreds of young men and women who had spent million of rupees to undergo training to become commercial pilots, who were also unemployed and broke. My dreams failed to take off when I realized this truth. I had come a long way from desperately finding the money I needed for the training – I had broken many social barriers and challenged the patriarchal social structure – and to no avail.

The search for a job proved to be difficult. Many of those who found jobs got them not because of their talent, but because their parents pulled strings. According to one report, there were more than 250 unemployed pilots in Nepal, where there are only a handful of aircraft belonging to only a few airlines. My chances of getting a job were close to zero. The epaulettes on my white shirt with two golden strips and the wing insignia on the pocket were the only things that remained of my dream as I remained unemployed for almost five years. I took on odd jobs to pay off loans and manage my expenses. My parents had gone beyond their means to support me, selling whatever they had to finance my training.

After five and a half years I was hired by Simrik Airlines. They had two Beechcraft 1900 and Dornier 228 aircrafts. I was trained on the Dornier 228 and earned my Nepali pilot licence on June 23rd 2015. I was the only female pilot at Simrik Airlines. The Dornier 228 operated flights to remote STOL (short takeoff and landing) sectors like Lukla, Phaplu, Jomsom, Simikot, etc., carrying passengers and essential supplies like food and medicine.

Though there have been many female pilots who flew Twin Otter and Dornier to this remote sector, there has never been a female captain in the STOL sector. Men have long dominated STOL sectors in Nepal. Female pilots who were about to become captains were transferred to Non-STOL sectors like Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa. When asked for the reason of this gender disparity some noted that it wasn’t a job for a woman. It has been the management practices for decades not to release a female captain to STOL sectors, this is a reflection of where our country is moving in terms of gender equality.

As I write this article, I am the only female pilot in private airlines who flies to STOL sectors, mainly Lukla. About a year ago I moved to Tara Airlines, where I found hope. They are encouraging me to become the first female STOL captain. Though I can only imagine that day, I look forward to when I will become one.

STOL sectors have unique challenges with upslope runways, high terrain, difficult approaches and unpredictable weather. STOL sectors are filled with many challenges requiring that pilots are highly professional and disciplined. Despite being highly qualified, Nepal has witnessed many fatal airplane crashes involving commercial passenger flights. On 27 May 2017, I lost a good friend in a plane crash at Lukla. Though this incident hasn’t held me back, I have a lot to improve, a lot to learn and a lot of challenges to face in the days and years to come.

Recently I married someone who is also a pilot flying J-41 in Yeti airlines. I feel fortunate to have a partner who understands and supports me. I am up for every challenge that I will face in my career, and I am excited for all of the good experiences and opportunities to come.

About the Author

Yashodha Bhattarai is a First Officer with Tara Airlines in Kathmandu, Nepal.

]]>ICAO Career Profile: My First Year with the Organizationhttps://www.unitingaviation.com/strategic-objective/general-interest/icao-career-profile-my-first-year-with-the-organization/
Tue, 01 May 2018 10:09:43 +0000https://www.unitingaviation.com/?p=6730

Joining ICAO in March 2017 presented me with exciting new challenges, combined with a high level of expectations, as well as a great new adventure with a wonderful team. The Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) The first and main challenge I faced when I joined ICAO was a request from the 39th Assembly to develop, […]

Joining ICAO in March 2017 presented me with exciting new challenges, combined with a high level of expectations, as well as a great new adventure with a wonderful team.

The Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP)

The first and main challenge I faced when I joined ICAO was a request from the 39th Assembly to develop, in less than a year, the first Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP). Fortunately, a task force was already working towards this objective, requiring limited guidance and support from me. The most difficult aspect was shepherding the fledgling GASeP through ICAO’s governing bodies, including the Committee on Unlawful Interference (UIC) and the Council, responding to their requests and making modifications as necessary. Subsequently, the draft plan was circulated to all States and then modified to address comments received. This entire process was successfully completed within the given timeline, and the GASeP was approved by the Council at its 212th session on 10 November 2017.

In the coming years my focus will be on supporting and monitoring the implementation of the GASeP. Regional conferences have been organized to inform States of this plan, incorporate it into their own decision-making processes, prioritize their actions, and build their own roadmap. The Africa and Middle East meeting was held in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt in August 2017, the Asia Pacific meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand in December 2017, and a third meeting was held from 29 to 31 May 2018 in the Europe and North Atlantic Region, in Lisbon, Portugal. Further meetings will also be planned for the other ICAO regions.

Cybersecurity

The second major challenge facing me as I joined ICAO also stemmed from a mandate provided by the Assembly. Resolution A39-19 calls for ICAO to “lead and seek to attain a comprehensive cybersecurity work plan and governance structure with all relevant stakeholders”. In response to this mandate, I oversaw the establishment of a Secretariat Study Group, supported by thematic working groups. This Study Group has now drafted a roadmap for the development of an ICAO strategy for cybersecurity in aviation, which will be presented to the 40th ICAO Assembly in 2019. This complex and crosscutting issue is being managed in close cooperation with the Air Navigation Bureau, who have many years of experience working on critical aviation systems information security.

Emergency security measures

My third security-related challenge was unexpected: in mid-March 2017 some States required emergency measures to be put in place in a number of airports for flights bound to their territories, in order to address an increasing level of threat of improvised explosive devices concealed in portable electronic devices. The imposition of these emergency measures is commonly known as the “Laptop ban”. ICAO was called upon to coordinate a global response to this issue, taking into account both safety and security aspects, and propose sustainable solutions. In response to this challenge, ICAO created a task force composed of State experts and also referred the matter to a cargo safety group. Significant effort has been made to explain these issues to the various Committees involved, to ICAO’s Air Navigation Commission and to the Council, as well as to propose solutions.

Being responsible for Aviation Security and Facilitation in ICAO means creating the conditions for State experts to collaborate and reach consensus on critical technical issues.

One major Facilitation programme in ICAO is the Traveller Identification Programme (ICAO TRIP), which aims to enhance the integrity of passport-issuance and ensure robust identification-management processes to improve border security and facilitate travel across borders.

Promoting ICAO’s TRIP Strategy is very demanding, as it involves hosting Symposiums, both at the regional and global levels, conducting seminars and training courses, publishing guidance (the TRIP Compendium was issued in 2017), and coordinating all these activities with many other international organizations.

New York, New York

Following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2309(2016), which reaffirmed ICAO’s leadership with regard to aviation security and facilitation, the ICAO Secretary General was invited in July 2017 to present a report on aviation security to the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council. She was also invited to report on the progress made under the UNSCR 2309(2016) to the UN Security Council in September 2017.

ICAO is now developing links and formalizing cooperation mechanisms in the fields of aviation security and facilitation with major UN bodies, in particular the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Office for CounterTerrorism (OCT).

Monitoring and Assisting States

An important function of the ICAO Secretariat is to assist States in the implementation of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). For any such assistance project to be effective, it is first required to have a good understanding of the State’s actual aviation security and facilitation situation. ICAO gains this knowledge either through the Universal Security Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA), or by carrying out a needs assessments mission. With this information, assistance and capacity-building activities are planned and delivered with the support of the ICAO Regional Offices. My team and I have been working to explain to States how audits contribute to assistance and provide a tool for them to improve their system, and that they are not simply an exam for them to attempt to pass.

Lessons learned

Being responsible for Aviation Security and Facilitation in ICAO means creating the conditions for State experts to collaborate and reach consensus on critical technical issues. It also involves getting proposals reviewed and approved by ICAO’s deliberative bodies (Committees and Council), organizing support for States regarding the implementation of SARPs and assessing the results through continuous monitoring.

The past year has been intense and very demanding but also rewarding. My second year on the job looks to be heading in the same direction. In addressing the many challenges ahead, however, I am very fortunate to be able to rely on the support of dedicated State experts, as well as an excellent ICAO team, from the technical staff, through the Director of the Air Transport Bureau all the way to the Secretary General.

Sylvain Lefoyer has been the Deputy Director of the Aviation Security and Facilitation Branch in the Air Transport Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since 1 March 2017. He leads teams responsible for developing Aviation Security and Facilitation policy, Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), conducting audits of Member States’ aviation security activities, assisting States that are unable to address deficiencies highlighted by those audits, and implementing the Traveler Identification Programme (ICAO TRIP) Strategy.

Mr Lefoyer has extensive experience at the senior executive level in policy and regulations development, strategy, oversight, critical inci dent management and organization development in aviation security and facilitation.

This article was originally written for the ICAO EUR/NAT Office’s Newsletter (Issue 3) on May 2018. A full list of their newsletters can be found here.

Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world's airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring the global air transport system is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2018, provisional figures show that ACI serves 641 members operating 1,953 airports in 176 countries.

ACI’s guidance is intended to help operators ensure that all aspects of landside security, including prevention, deterrence and incident management, have been considered. Their procedures update, and bring together the best elements of managing security, based on the current experience of airports around the world involved in this crucial task. The Handbook also provides many examples and options for different operating environments and may be used as a standalone guide or to complement an APEX in Security review.

“Security remains our top priority at ACI World and the ACI Handbook is an indispensable resource to help airport authorities protect the security of the travelling public and employees at the airport,” said Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World. “Airports already exercise best practice, take all threats seriously, and apply rigorous security methods but, in such a complex global aviation system, the potential for gaps to develop sometimes exists. Through this new handbook and the range of training and support that we provide, ACI is committed to addressing them.”

The handbook was launched today at the 13th annual ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition hosted by Narita International Airport Corporation at the Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall.

“It is a fact that aviation is a focus of terrorism”, said, Franck Capello, Aviation Security Director at Broward County Aviation Department (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport). “This Handbook is a valuable and useful resource for worldwide Airport operators to consider while developing their Landside Threat Mitigation Plan”.

“Having supported ACI for many years as a member of the ACI World Standing Security Committee, ACI EUROPE Security Committee, and more recently in support of the development of aviation security training programmes, I highly commend this publication”, said Andrew McClumpha, Director, McClumpha Associates Ltd. “In my view, never before has the timing been so relevant for a publication that provides pragmatic, applicable, and comprehensive guidance that is drawn from best practice, lessons learned, and emerging threats and demands in aviation security. It is a publication that can be recommended for all airports and all their associated stakeholders”.

“This Handbook provides the industry with an opportunity to realize the risk-based approach to security it has long sought”, said Stacey Peel, Strategic Aviation Security Global Lead at Arup. “Arup is delighted to have its risk and business focused approach to aviation security recognized by ACI World and to collaborate on the development of international guidance. The Handbook contributes not only to improving the safety of those using our airports, but recognizes the business benefits of risk-based security including capital and operational cost saving and the alignment of security to an airport’s passenger experience, architectural design and other business objectives”.

Given the challenges associated with securing landside zones of the airport, the ACI Landside Security Handbook provides operators with a comprehensive set of tools for mitigating risk in a low-cost and highly effective way,” said Anne Marie Pellerin, Managing Partner for LAM LHA Security Innovation.

The 26th ACI World General Assembly recognized the importance of landside security and the need to support airport leaders in identifying and implementing best practices. ACI World is encouraging airport stakeholders to make this handbook available to their employees so they may understand and follow the best principles and recommended practices for ensuring safe, secure and efficient airport environment. ACI World would like to thank all the contributors and authors of this handbook.

The most important legislative function performed by ICAO is the formulation and adoption of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for international civil aviation. These are incorporated into the 19 technical annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.

Of critical importance to the future of civil aviation and to the international community at large are the measures taken by ICAO to prevent and suppress all acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation throughout the world. SARPs for international aviation security were first adopted by the ICAO Council in March 1974, and designated as Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention.For more information on how to order a copy, please see the Catalogue of ICAO Publications

AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the premier event for the unmanned systems industry. Every year, companies rely on XPONENTIAL to launch new technology, solutions, products and that showcase advancements in technology. If you are looking to harness the power of unmanned technology, AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2018 is the place to be. An intersection with cutting-edge innovation and real-world applications, […]

AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the premier event for the unmanned systems industry. Every year, companies rely on XPONENTIAL to launch new technology, solutions, products and that showcase advancements in technology. If you are looking to harness the power of unmanned technology, AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2018 is the place to be. An intersection with cutting-edge innovation and real-world applications, XPONENTIAL is the one event that brings all things unmanned into sharp focus. Join more than 8,500 industry leaders and forward-thinking users from all market sectors to learn the latest on policy, business use cases and technology applications.

The inaugural AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards will be presented during the 2018 event. The awards will honor innovators in the unmanned systems industry; individuals and organizations, with a demonstrated commitment to advancing technology; leaders in promoting safe practices; and programs that use unmanned systems to improve the human condition. Submissions were received in the following areas:

Technology Innovation

Training and Education

Operations and Safety

Humanitarian | sponsored by

“The unmanned systems industry is innovating at an incredible rate and creating tremendous benefits for our economy, lifestyle and society,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. “The XCELLENCE awards give us a chance to recognize the companies and individuals who are propelling the industry into the future.”